Reminder for the week: Anglers need a fishing license, trout stamp, FIN number for trout season

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Feb. 6-12 made 1,311 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 11 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 46 citations. Officers responded to 29 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community
• On Feb. 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended a career fair at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown, where they presented information on Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police careers and discussed summer seasonal officer employment opportunities.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incident of note:
• On Feb. 9, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited a juvenile with multiple traffic violations after being observed operating a vehicle in an agricultural field near Townsend. Citations included malicious mischief by a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, failure to have insurance identification in possession, possession of a fictitious or cancelled registration card and operation of an unregistered motor vehicle. The juvenile was released to parents pending a future court date in New Castle County Family Court.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: No snow goose conservation order permit (1), and possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer (2)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (4), and possession of undersized largemouth bass (1).

Public Safety: Malicious mischief by a motor vehicle (1), operating a motor vehicle without a license (1), failure to have insurance identification in possession (1), possession of a fictitious or cancelled registration card (1), operation of an unregistered motor vehicle (1), possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited (30)*, and possession of ammunition by a person prohibited (1)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2).

* See related press release: Harrington man arrested by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police for multiple deer hunting and firearm violations

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind anglers that with trout season opening downstate at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 4 and other spring fishing opportunities coming up soon, they need to purchase their 2017 Delaware fishing license and, if trout fishing, a state trout stamp.

Trout will be stocked in Tidbury Pond near Dover in Kent County and Newton Pond near Greenwood in Sussex County. Both ponds are closed to all fishing from Saturday, Feb. 18 until opening day March 4. Upstate, trout will be stocked in six streams in northern New Castle County: White Clay Creek, Christina Creek, Pike Creek, Beaver Run, Wilson Run and Mill Creek where the season opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 1. The six trout streams are closed to all fishing from Saturday, March 18 until opening day on April 1.

A resident annual Delaware recreational fishing license, which covers fresh and tidal waters as well as crabbing and clamming, costs $8.50 for ages 16 through 64. Persons under the age of 16 and residents age 65 and older are not required to purchase fishing licenses in Delaware, although exempt persons may purchase fishing licenses and trout stamps if they so choose to help support fisheries management and trout stocking efforts. For non-resident anglers age 16 and older, a Delaware fishing license costs $20.

Both resident and non-resident anglers age 16 and older also are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number. The free number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free FIN number.

Most trout anglers also must purchase a Delaware Trout Stamp, with the exception of anglers younger than age 12 and resident anglers age 65 and older. For residents age 16 through 64, a trout stamp costs $4.20. For residents age 12 through 15, a young angler trout stamp costs $2.10. For non-residents, a trout stamp is required for all anglers age 12 and older and costs $6.20.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, click on 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Like Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386.

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